Advertisement

Plans to build 15 apartments in Wetheral could be passed, despite objections from more than 80 residents.

Citadel Estates were granted planning permission un 2012 to build the homes on the site of Skelton House, a 200-year-old property that had been demolished.

Last year they modified the plans, increasing the size of the project by adding a forth floor, but objections from locals meant Carlisle City Council refused planning consent and issued a notice to halt the building work.

Citadel launched an appeal, proposing a third set of plans over three floors.

84 people have objected to these new proposals but the plans look set to be approved at a meeting on Friday.

Advertisement

Carlisle City Council have set its budget for the financial year 2014/2015.

The agreement came last night, 20 February, at a special full Council meeting.

It has originally been delayed as the conservative opposition tried to deliver an alternative.

The council needs to make a further £3.939m saving from a £12.8m budget between 2014-15 and 2018-19.

But this budget has come under fire from the public after it was announced that the cuts would mean play equipment being stripped from 21 local parks.

“We’ve had to make some tough decisions during the budget process. Substantial savings are required, but despite spending pressures, we’ve frozen council tax for two years and taken steps to protect services. We’re also investing in our resources, including the Old Town Hall whilst developing new facilities like the arts centre.”

– Cllr Colin Glover, Leader of the Council

Some significant capital projects totalling £7.217million are included within the budget for 2014/15, including:

£1.015million for a city centre arts centre

£1.4million for the Old Town Hall and Greenmarket improvements (a further £38,000 is allocated in the 2015/16 budget)

£0.5million for the Harraby School and Community Project (a further £500,000 is allocated in the 2015/16 budget)

Council members will meet tonight to continue their discussion on controversial budget cut plans affecting the city's play parks.

A petition with over 1,000 signatures were handed in to Carlisle City Council on Tuesday, 18 February in protest of one park closure.

Earlier in the month the Council's ruling Labour executive agreed plans remove equipment from 21 play parks across the city in a cost-cutting move, but residents don't want their children to be affected by the cuts.

Protestors instead want the council to scrap their plans for an art centre scheme at the Old Fire Station and put the money from that into improving the parks.

A petition with more than one thousand signatures has been handed in to Carlisle City Council against cuts to a children's play area.

Earlier this month the Council's ruling Labour executive agreed plans to remove equipment from 21 play parks across the city in a cost-cutting move, but residents in Belah don't want their children to be affected by the cuts.